The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-03
RUSSIAN SPY SYSTEM.
Vienna Corr. New York Times.

Vienna Corr. New York Times
 Some four months ago it was an nounced that Colonel de Villaume, the military attache of the German em- bassy at St. Petersburg, had, in ac- cordance with instructions received from Berlin. commenced an action for criminal libel against the Nocoe Vremyd. The great Russian newspa- per had boldly asserted that the colo nel was at the head of the German spy organization in Russia, and after re- ferring at length to the talents which he had displayed in that particular di- rection during his residence in Paris as military attache of Kaiser Will liam's embassy there, went on to warn it's countrymen to avoid having any dealings with so questionable char acter. Immediately the lawsuit was commenced the Nocoe Vremy0 dis patched one of the ablest men of it's editorial staff, q M. Sagoulaiew, to Paris to collect material for the de- fense, and, of course, the French gov ernment were only too pleased to place at his disposal the immense quantity of evidence which they pos sess on the subject. The information thus obtained was of so complete na- ture that Prince Bismarck, realizing the fact that it's publication in the course of the trial would seriously compromise the German government, has issued instructions to Colonel de Villaume to withdraw from the pros- ecution and to let the whole matter drop. Although the Russians are con- siderably disappointed in being thus deprived of the many piquant revela- tions which were expected in the course of the proceedings, yet on the other hand, both the press and the public feel exceedingly exultant at having "cornered" Prince Bismarck.
 Russia's spy organization in foreign countries, concerning which so many romances have been written, is far less effective than is generally supposed. It is divided into two sections, one of which is devoted to international questions and to foreign affairs, while the other, and far more important, is entrusted with the surveillance of the czar's own subjects abroad.
 The agents belonging to the former of these two departments are fre- quentiy we'll known, and in some cases make no secret of their relations to the Imperial Chancellerie at St. Peters burg. Among the best known of these is undoubtedly Mime. de Novikoff, a lady who, without good looks or much social standing, was clever enough to ingratiate herself to such an extent with several of the leading statesmen and principal newspaper editors in London that the whole course of Great Britain's policy abroad was affected thereby at certain crit ical moments. Her intimacy with Sir Charles Dilke, Mir. Chamberlain and MT. Gladstone is matter of public report, while her penetrating knowl- edge of their character is shown by the fact that several years ago she pre- dicted the fall of the unfortunate Chel- sea Baronet, asserting that "his methods as man of pleasure took him far beyond the observations Of GoTt- chakof, and would eventually ruin his career in so straight-laced coun- try as England. Her latest exploit, as far as Great Britain is concerned, has been the detection of Dunleap Singh from his English allegiance, and his migration to Russia, whence it is quite possible that he may become a considerable source of uneasiness to the British authorities in Calcutta
 On the continent the work of the czar's agents is attended with far less difficulty. There are but few for eigners who are impervious to the at- fractions of a "bit of ribbon" and it certainly would afford instructive reading if list were compiled of the Russian decorations which have been distributed during the past ten years at the French Prefecture de Police alone. Of all the numerous prefects who have succeeded one another at the Rue Jerusalem during that time, not one has escaped the inevitable 3Grand Gordon Russe;;" and it must